BNSF Railway O35 Road Switcher Photos
2004 - Present
5 February 2007 and the westbound BNSF O35 job has just passed the former station of Goldbadge at the eastern end of the
Ennis Sub and is crossing Dysart and Thunderbird in El Mirage. "Goldbadge" no longer exists as the lumber company was removed to make room for the Super WalMart that was
constructed on this triangular parcel of land in 2006/2007. Please click here to see an aerial image of where the Ennis Sub branches off from the BNSF Phoenix Sub in El Mirage.
The Ennis Subdivision in 2008 is a nine-mile light-duty branch line that is
served almost daily. Speed limit on the line is 10 MPH, enabling a relatively
easy chase. Thankfully for railfans, several industries along the
line justify the continued existence of the Ennis Sub, including
dimensional lumber, steel, and liquified petroleum gas. Indeed, the future may
be even brighter for the Ennis Sub. Land is being developed for industry and the BNSF Railway is
exploring ways to increase capacity and expand service to current and planned industries.
I also recommend the following website for more
information detailing former ATSF operations on "The Peavine" in Phoenix: A Guide to ATSF in
Phoenix
Site
Map
About the background photo, and some more photos :)
I thought it would be interesting to chronical the locomotives I've seen working the O35 job. Since I moved to my current address in mid-2004, I've been documenting movements on the Peavine and Ennis Sub
on a regular basis. Initially the locomotives seemed to get rotated through the fleet of Geeps at Mobest every week or two, or so it seemed. As time went on individual units were staying assigned to the O35 longer and longer...sometimes
for months at a time. Usually only one unit is assigned at a time but as you view the photos you'll find sets of two units. Please click here to view a table of the units I've noted assigned to the O35.
The photos below are listed in reverse chronological sequence and illustrate the various units I've seen working this short but fascinating branch of the Phoenix Subdivision. Also, please note the O35 not only works the
Ennis Subdivision but is also responsible for the 3-odd mile portion of the mainline from Lizard Acres to the west end of El Mirage. As a result, the O35 sometimes has a considerable wait to occupy the
mainline and perform that work.
July 08, 2009
After the 8733 was turned loose, the 124 rejoined the Ennis Sub and travelled Light Power back to the beer distro facility to grab the cut of cars and do whatever it is they had to do for the rest of the afternoon.
July 08, 2009
A short time after the photo be low was taken, a very short Z-CLOPHX went by on the mainline, and the two O35 locomotives moved Light Power to the Ennis switch to set out the 8733. Here we see them alongside Grand Avenue just prior to the set out.
July 08, 2009
Here we see a revised O35 consist near the new beer distro facility in Surprise. This morning the inbound Local set out GP60M 124 at the west end of El Mirage for the O35 to pick up later on in the morning.
June 26, 2009
About 9:10am I was driving north on Litchfield Rd near the grade crossing and I spotted the 8733 on the move with a boxcar and caboose in tow. I stopped short of the grade crossing and waited for the train to make its way towards me.
Here is another photo of it a few minutes later...this time it is between Peoria and Cactus and is heading towards the new beer distribution facility and eventually to work on the
mainline in El Mirage.
June 25, 2009
The 2229 was replaced by GP38 2191 before the end of daylight on June 24th but I wasn't able to get a photo of it. By the afternoon of June 25th scanner chatter indicated there was yet another problem with the current unit. I heard a warrant
for the O37 using GP60 8733 to head out to El Mirage from Restricted Limits. Actually, he got a warrant only up to the MP 176 in Youngtown. The 2191 got cleared up in El Mirage and the 8733 was able to proceed into El Mirage to give the
O35 a hand.
By the time I returned to El Mirage a couple hours later, neither of the units were present but there was some scanner chatter out on the Ennis Sub. So, I headed out towards Calgas and was surprised to find the 2191 creeping along as I neared Cactus
Avenue grade crossing. So, I stopped and got the photo above. From there, I went out to Calgas and found the GP60 8733 tied down for the evening. For another view of the 2191 with a stormy monsoon sky background, please click
the photo above.
June 24, 2009
For some reason, the GP60 8737 didn't last very long on the O35. The evening of June 23rd I noticed it was sitting on the Ennis siding north of Greenway Rd and that's a pretty good indicator of a pending pick up by the Local. The next morning, there was no sign
of the 8737 but I did find GP38 2229 tucked away onto one of the El Mirage yard tracks waiting for the morning outbound Z train to pass. This unit was starting to give the crew some problems and in this view we see the conductor on the ground. He was discussing
something with the engineer. They finally got the train moving but it became apparent they were going to have to change units again if any work was going to get accomplished. Click on the photo to see a photo of the eastbound Z train passing the 2229.
June 4, 2009
Ironically, just a few hours before I made grabbed this photo, a buddy of mine and I were pondering if/when any of the plentiful GP60s currently working in Phoenix would ever be assigned to the O35 job. Well, when the O35 job called DS13 to work on the mainline for a few minutes and ID'd themselves as the 8737 I almost fell out of my chair...a GP60 was indeed
assigned to the O35...and I'd just seen the 2843 (seen below) at lunch time yesterday. So, I figured they were leaving the mainline and heading onto the Ennis Sub so I headed out west a couple miles and, thankfully, I found the 8737 lumbering
towards Calgas. This is probably the only photo I got of the 8737 working the O35 and it was a dreary morning photograph at that...
April 10, 2009
Well, the 2652 didn't last long on the O35 as witnessed by GP39-2 2843 sitting at Ennis/El Mirage the next day. This Geep would stay assigned to the O35 until June 3, 2009.
April 9, 2009
A fine Thursday morning and we find the latest O35 hack sitting on the Ennis Sub at El Mirage. Scanner chatter indicates the crew is having some problems getting the locomotive to fire up. Not sure how long this unit has been working
the O35 job but it's only a day or two at most so far. This unit has been rebuilt to -3 standards as indicated by the designation on the side frame below the cab: GP35-3R.
It's interesting to note this is only the second time I've noted a unit painted in Heritage 3 paint working the O35 job.
March 10, 2009
Another GP38 in town with primer patches similar to the 2220 is the 2229. The 2626 departed Phoenix a few days ago and was promplty replaced by GP38 2229. 8-axle flat car QTTX 130740 has been in town for at least a couple
of months now, and is currently being used as a buffer car. Here we see the O35 job waiting on the Ennis Sub to join the mainline after the westbound Local clears up.
February 24, 2009
I first noticed the 2626 working the O35 job on February 15th and today is the first day I've taken the opportunity to grab a photo. Here we see the 2626 entering the Ennis Sub in El Mirage
after having run light engine from Lizard Acres.
January 20, 2009
On Monday the 19th of January, the 2445 returned to Mobest yard in the morning and was apparently replaced with GP38 2220. Here we see the new O35 hack on the mainline in El Mirage after running
lite from Lizard Acres early in the afternoon of January 20th, 2009.
January 14, 2009
The 2413 didn't last very long on the O35 job. Here we see the replacement unit, GP30 2445, backing towards the mainline at El Mirage on the morning of January 14, 2009.
January 9, 2009
Sometime during the last day or two, GP35 2626 was taken off the O35 and replaced by GP30 2413. After some quick work on the mainline between MP 173 and MP 175, the O35 headed toward Calgas on the Ennis Sub with a lumber load, a string of
tank cars and the former BN caboose "shoving platform." This photo shows the tail end of the train crossing Cactus Rd. Please click on the photo to see a photo of the heavily-tagged GP30.
December 29, 2008
GP35 2626 was set out at El Mirage on the Ennis siding sometime Friday night or Saturday morning after Christmas. Here we see the new O35 hack
working Calgas on Monday morning, December 29th. GP30 2430 was picked up by the inbound Local on Saturday morning, December 27th, and departed Phoenix on the Repo train on the 28th. You can click on the photo to see the Repo train it departed on. The "inbound Local" link shows the unit on the Saturday morning headin into town.
December 11, 2008
GP30 2430 has been assigned to the O35 since late October 2008 having replaced the GP35 2590 by at least the 27th. Here we see the O35 waiting to join the mainline at El Mirage.
October 17, 2008
GP35 2590 is seen with just a shoving platform and is approaching the mainline in El Mirage to start some work.
August 2, 2008
GP35 2535 and the shoving platform are seen on the Ennis siding alongside Grand Avenue at the MP 174. Fast approaching is the evening M-PHXBEL with D8-41CW 930 in charge of a fairly short manifest.
July 13, 2008
GP35 2580 has just completed a shoving move onto the Webb Spur. Engineer Ryan Baker is pulling the loco forward to clear the spur switch so they can go over to Calgas and pick up a heavy train of empty tank cars.
June 08, 2008
GP30 2462 has stopped at the industry spur at MP 3 on the Ennis Sub. They're about to pick up the empty centerbeam in the lumber yard in the background. Engineer Ryan Baker is in charge of today's road switcher job.
June 06, 2008
GP39-2 2769 is seen resting in the late evening sun at El Mirage alongside the mainline.
May 11, 2008
GP39-2 2944 is pulling a long cut of empty flat cars and tank cars off the Ennis Sub. Thompson Ranch Rd. grade crossing in El Mirage.
March 15, 2008
GP39-2 2836 took over from the 2458 after just a day or two. The unit is seen just after sunrise at the east end of the Ennis Sub in El Mirage. She'd go on duty just a few minutes after I took this photo.
March 11, 2008
GP30 2458 was just assigned to the O35 this morning, replacing the 2641 that worked the job through yesterday. Here we see the unit approaching the grade crossing at Thunderbird and Dysart on the Ennis Subdivision.
March 1, 2008
GP35 2641 worked the O35 for a spell in early 2008. Here the unit is parked at the east end of the Ennis Sub near Grand Avenue with empty flat cars.
January 18, 2008
GP38-2 2014 arrived at El Mirage on Sunday 13 January as the O36 job and since then has been the sole unit assigned to the O35. On Friday 18 January I finally caught up with them at work. Here we see the 2014 shoving a single loaded Illinois Central centerbeam
flat into the Foxworth Galbraith Truss company at Lizard Acres. Please click on the photo for another view of the 2014.
December 25, 2007
GP35 2558 was removed from the consist sometime on December 21st. I'd observed the O35 with the lashup shown below at 3:45pm on the 21st. Later the same evening the 2588 had been removed and parked north of Greenway on the Ennis setout track. Presumably, the Local that night picked it up and took it to Castle Hot Springs because it was gone the next morning. Here the O35 is seen parked at Ennis/El Mirage early in the afternoon on Christmas Day.
December 19, 2007
GP35 2561 was joined by the 2558 and 2566 sometime during the last 24 hours. The latter two units were at the north end of Ennis siding alongside the mainline on December 18th; the 2561 was on the Ennis Sub at the same time.
Here we see the trio parked near the Peoria Ave grade crossing at the timetable location known as Sun Valley.
December 2, 2007
GP35 2561 is the lone unit now assigned to the O35. Observed on the Ennis Sub at El Mirage taking a break on a Sunday afternoon.
August 18, 2007
GP35s 2553 and 2532 are seen crossing Grand Avenue while coming off the Ennis Sub at El Mirage. This is a similar view to the one below but the photo was taken from between the lanes on Grand Avenue instead of on the east side of the street.
August 18, 2007
The westbound Local has just given back the Milepost 175 enabling the O35 to join the mainline behind them. GP35s 2553 and 2532 are seen crossing Grand Avenue while coming off the Ennis Sub at El Mirage.
July 16, 2007
GP35 2553 and GP30 2471 are seen basking in early evening sunlight at Lizard Acres.
July 6, 2007
GP30 2471 and GP39M (rebuilt GP30) 2823 were sitting at the east end of Ennis siding alongside the mainline early in the morning of July 4. The 2446 and 2619 were also present in El Mirage but were apparently picked up by the westbound Local later in the day and taken to Mobest. In this view, we see the current O35 motors sitting on the Ennis Sub near the Grand Avenue crossing late in the morning of July 6.
May 23, 2007
GP30 2446 and GP35 2619 arrive "light" from Mobest Yard at the west end of El Mirage to begin the work for the day. These units stayed assigned to the O35 until early July 2007.
April 22, 2007
A trio of Geeps led by GP 35 2591 (the 2519 and 2430 are the others) prepare to go to work on the morning of April 22. Interestingly, the 2591 ran down to El Mirage as the O36 (the usual TOFC day job) and the whole shebang operated this day as the O36. Guess the O36 crew didn't have anything better to do that day.
April 10, 2007
GP35 2519, now mated to GP30 2430, is seen near Grand Avenue on the Ennis Sub.
April 6, 2007
GP35 2519 was seemingly dropped off at El Mirage on the Ennis siding the night before.
February 5, 2007
The 2751 is seen just past Webb Spur enroute to Calgas.
February 5, 2007
In nearly three years, this is the first time I've seen a green unit on the O35. GP39E (rebuilt GP30) 2751 was having trouble and it took the crew two attempts to get the cut of cars across Grand Ave and up onto the Ennis Sub. From there it was a fairly easy chase out to Calgas.
August 20, 2006
Been a couple months since the previous photo and the 2598 has been turned and is now facing east. West end of El Mirage, sitting on one of the autorack tracks.
June 22, 2006
Since the 2598 is pointing west, unique photo opportunites exist. This is Lizard Acres, adjacent to the mainline.
June 21, 2006
2598 is seen pointing geographic east at El Mirage near the beginning of the Ennis Sub very near to Grand Avenue.
June 16, 2006
GP35 2617 awaits permission to enter the mainline at Lizard Acres.
June 1, 2006
In this view north towards Goldbadge from Thunderbird Road, GP35 2627 rests. The sign advertises the near future for El Mirage. Just over
a year later, in mid July 2007, the Walmart officially opened for business. The former Goldbadge station sign and siding track have been removed. Please Click Here for an aerial photo I took of the area in mid-2005. The triangular patch of ground is the location of the new Wal Mart and it takes up the entire plot. After the photo loads, you can click on it in the lower right to make it 1400 pixels wide.
April 20, 2006
Unfortunately, it doesn't take long for the taggers to leave their mark.
April 4, 2006
Thankfully, they separated the units and set the B23 free. I was elated!
April 4, 2006
Here are the two units side-by-side. I was definitely hoping the B23-7 would resume working by itself while I was out photographing.
April 4, 2006
The B23-7 shoved the tank car from El Mirage to Lizard Acres and I followed them all the way...I'm sure the crew thought I was crazy.
April 4, 2006
The 4268 prepares to pull some cars from the Foxworth Galbraith Truss company at Lizard Acres.
February 23, 2006
Viewed from near the location of the following photo but looking in the opposite direction, GP35 2600 is seen at El Mirage. In this view we see the Ennis Sub curving across Grand Avenue. The Geep sits on the Ennis siding.
Next track is the Phoenix Sub - The Peavine - with the autorack tracks in the background.
February 23, 2006
GP35 2600 and GP38-2 2348 are seen at El Mirage on the Ennis Sub, very near to Grand Avenue.
February 13, 2006
GP38-2 2348 is seen at El Mirage on the Ennis Sub, very near to Grand Avenue.
February 8, 2006
GP35 2532 and GP38-2 2348 pass Goldbadge on the Ennis Sub.
January 28, 2006
GP35 2532 rests at Lizard Acres while a westbound manifest, the M-BELPHX, passes enroute to Phoenix on the Peavine.
November 30, 2005
GP30 2443 pulls a cut across the eastbound lanes of Grand Avenue. The cut of cars in the distance occupy the Ennis siding adjacent to the Peavine.
May 8, 2005
GP30 2422 passes the Goldbadge station sign on the Ennis Sub.
April 26, 2005
A nice trio of Geeps occupy the Ennis siding adjacent to the Peavine, near the Greenway Blvd grade crossing.
April 11, 2005
GP30 2422 pulls a nice foreign boxcar, the Illinois Central 620489, past Goldbadge on the Ennis Sub.
April 5, 2005
GP30 2422 is seen at Lizard Acres, waiting to go on duty after the morning mainline traffic passes.
March 30, 2005
GP30 2409 and GP35 2586 sit on the Ennis siding adjacent to the Peavine mainline and the El Mirage autorack facility. This is MP 174 on the Peavine.
March 11, 2005
GP35 2586 is seen at El Mirage on the Ennis Sub, very near to Grand Avenue.
February 23, 2005
GP35 2640 sits on the Ennis siding adjacent to the Peavine mainline and the El Mirage autorack facility.
February 13, 2005
Another view of GP35 2589 at the steel customer's facility at Sun Valley, near the Peoria Avenue grade crossing.
February 13, 2005
GP35 2586 is tucked in the spur track at Goldbadge while GP35 2589 pulls a cut of cars along the first mile of the Ennis Sub. The lumber customer at Goldbadge no longer exists as the whole parcel of land here has become home to a Super Walmart in 2007.
February 06, 2005
Returning from Lizard Acres, GP39-2 2945 runs long hood forward past the Surprise station sign on the Peavine along Grand Avenue.
January 23, 2005
GP35 2519 approaches the grade crossing at Cactus Avenue enroute to customers to the west.
January 16, 2005
GP35 2549 is facing Grand Avenue in this view at El Mirage. Soon the crew will pull across Grand and start working the Ennis siding, adjacent to the mainline.
January 13, 2005
GP35 2549 pauses short of Peoria Avenue at the location known as Sun Valley. There is no station sign here but there are two customers nearby, on either side of the track.
January 2, 2005
GP35 2643 rounds the curve at Webb Spur enroute towards Calgas. The track in the foreground extends south towards the air base but no longer enters the base, having been
severed just north of Northern Avenue. This track is often used as overflow storage for Calgas tankers, and more recently (2007-2008) loads of 36 inch diameter pipe.
November 20, 2004
GP35 2643 is seen at El Mirage on the Ennis Sub, very near to Grand Avenue.
October 25, 2004
GP35 2606 is seen alongside Olive Avenue at Calgas.
September 20, 2004
GP35 2643 is seen alongside Olive Avenue near Calgas.
August 15, 2004
GP30 2436 and GP35 2645 at the west end of El Mirage using one of the autorack tracks as a weekend resting spot. Ominous storm clouds in the
background are typical of the summer monsoon in Arizona.
July 22, 2004
GP35 2606 is seen at Reams, which is a siding / storage track just west of Calgas alongside Olive Avenue.
June 30, 2004
GP35 2505 and GP39-2 2861 work the Fertizona facility at Fennemore, the westernmost customer on the Ennis Sub. The train is on the former north-south line that parallels Cotton Lane and once connected Beardsley to the north with
McMicken to the south. The curved section of track in the foreground is the Ennis Sub and eventually becomes tangent track parallel to Olive Avenue.
Click Here and here to see an aerial image of the Fennemore / Wayne area.
